Japanese Peace Settlement.

At meeting of Dominion Representatives Bevin raised the question
of Japanese Peace Settlement. He said he had been considering
whether to discuss this question with Marshall in Moscow but had
decided against doing so. He was most anxious to keep German and
Japanese discussions quite separate and was firmly opposed to
following German procedure in Japanese settlement. It would, he
felt, be better if procedure for Japan could in the first place be
discussed with United States Government in Washington. He was
apprehensive that the United States Government, in view of recent
developments and in the light of General MacArthur's statement
favouring an early peace with Japan, might suddenly announce plans
for a peace treaty with Japan within a limited period.

He therefore suggested that the Dominion Governments take the
initiative of submitting their views to Washington as soon as
possible. He would suggest to Cabinet that it present its views on
procedure to the United States Government at an early date and
that a study be undertaken forthwith to enable the British
Government to formulate its ideas on settlement.

I assured the Foreign Secretary that the Australian Government
would endorse his decision not to discuss Japanese settlement with
Marshall in Moscow and he determined to keep it separate from
German discussions.